No Good Like It Is: Interview With Author McKendree R. Long III
Today we have an interview with McKendree R. Long III, author of No Good Like It Is.
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Q: Tell us about No Good Like It Is.
A: It is US Civil War era historical fiction, occurring between 1858-1865 in the South and Southwest. My two protagonists, Dobey Walls and Jimmy Melton, meet and bond before the war and barely survive it as Confederate horse soldiers. They must then struggle home to the Texas Panhandle to find Dobey’s long-missing family.
There are run-ins with destitute farmers, lonely widows, Home Guard thugs, freed and runaway slaves, Union deserters, and renegade lawmen; Cheyenne Dog Soldiers and Confederate Cherokees add to the chaos. A growing band of misfits attach themselves to our heroes as they go, slowing them to a snail’s pace.
Do they find love? well, yes-but it’s complicated. Do they get ‘home’ in time to save Dobey’s family? Well, certainly not all of them.
Q: What inspired this story?
A: I was researching Western Era weapons (1850-1890) and read an article about the Eighth Texas Cavalry, known as the Terry’s Texas Rangers. These rangers performed the first and the final cavalry charges of the Army of Tennessee, and tried to stop the slaughter of Union prisoners, mostly former slaves, at Fort Pillow. They provided the unit known as Shannon’s Raiders, who executed hundreds of looters, murderers, and rapists from both armies during Sherman’s March.
I was hooked.
I wanted to write something about the incredible changes that took place in that short time, in social mores, in racial acceptance, in technology, so I put a couple of fictional characters in this unit, and took them through the war and ‘home.’
Q: What is your writing style? Lots of action, humor?
A: Yes. Definitely action and dialog driven. I’ve tried to use the sort of humor that I experienced in combat, but not overdo it. I managed to do the story without using the ‘F’ word, so it’s rowdy but not raunchy. I develop my characters slowly, and don’t spend much time on the color of the moss on the log they are shooting over.
Q: Do you write in other genres?
A: I started a novel based on my Viet Nam experience years ago, but dropped it. I have done one children’s book, but set it aside too.
Q: How did you go about researching the many wonderful details in this book?
A: I’ve always been fascinated with this era, and I read all that I could find on it. I was a US History minor and I also collect guns from this period. Research is much easier with the internet now.
Q: What are you reading now? Which authors have influenced you the most?
Q: Any advice for new writers?
Q: What’s next? Another novel?
Q: Drinks with two people, dead or alive. Who are they?
Q: How can we purchase No Good Like It Is?
Also if you ever find yourself near Columbia, South Carolina, you can buy it at Java Nook Books in Ridgeway, Simply Irresistible in Irmo, Happy Cafe on Forest Drive, Ed’s Editions, Books & Beans and Shooter’s Choice in West Columbia.
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Thanks for stopping by sir!
Addendum:
I saw this novel come to life (Mr. Long is a fellow member of the Columbia Writer’s Workshop) and I have to say it is a roaring good time.
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